Each Year November is designated as National Career Development Month by the National Career Development Association of the American Counseling Association. As a career counselor, I am proud to be a part of that celebration. Throughout the year I work with individuals and groups who are considering, or are in the midst of, making career decisions and plans. The planning process seems to be simpler for some and more complex for others, but always a worthwhile endeavor.
We know that even the term 'planning' is distasteful to some people and interesting to others. Some get excited as we make plans for something new, others really dread planning and the details that should accompany it.
When I started counseling, I would explain to my clients about the four steps in career planning - know yourself, learn more about the world of work, make a decision, and develop and implement your plans. We then gradually moved to referring to it as 'managing your career' and I now suggest a 6-step process - starting with the same four steps, but adding set up checkpoints (to check your progress) and repeat as needed. No matter how you refer to it, it is no longer a one-time process. These days people are changing jobs and careers much more frequently than we used to. So you may find that you need or want to make a career or job change in the near future. Think of it as being the manager of your career - the author and director of your play that is your life. Or create another analogy to help you think about the process. The steps are important, even if you only need to review the first one. If you find you could benefit from some guidance through the process, please don't hesitate to find a counselor who can provide the assistance you seek. I encourage you to expand your vision of your future!
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Ohio, a Master Career Counselor (MCC) as designated by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor. She has over 20 years of experience assisting adults in transition. She meets with individuals in person through Yager & Associates' Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and via telephone through Your Career Plan.
Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an e-mail to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment